What’s on Market to Market

Best of the Week Nov 23, 2009

Here’s a look at the some of the stories that I’ve found this week that I thought many of you may enjoy or should read if you get a chance. Some of them are videos, so that’s the fun part.

One of Iowa’s largest employers in Dubuque, Waterloo, Davenport, Ankeny and Ottumwa reports a 4Q loss, but a gain for the year. Deere and Company (which pays my mortgage, full disclosure) posted the results Wednesday. Here’s the QC Times story.

An assistant principal in the middle of a strip search incident involving an Atlantic student has resigned. IBNA board member Ric Hanson has the story on Radio Iowa from his KJAN post in Atlantic.

He may be gone from the Des Moines School Board, but Jonathan Narcisse is now hitting the road to debate Republican Candidate for Governor Chris Rants. Here’s a story from the Iowa Republican. Jon has not said if he will challenge Chet Culver for the Democratic nomination, but is leaving it up to the media to decide. If you’re not from DM, you can see the debates in Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque and Waterloo and Ankeny and Council Bluffs.

And some of the Iowa Film program is rolling again. Mostly paying what’s already been done and lifting the suspension. The state moved a tiny step forward in re-instating the movie tax credit.

This almost seemed like a no-duh type story, but was confirmed by data this week that Iowa’s community college enrollment is up. Traditionally enrollment at community colleges goes up in a down economy. NIACC is Mason City is seeing the same thing as others as reported by KIMT-TV

An environmental group says Iowa’s power plants are some of the oldest and most polluting in the country. Radio Iowa reports.

I have a couple of videos to watch this week, music videos. The first is about the Decorah Middle School as reported by the CR Gazette. The students are trying to win a technology grant and used Coldplay’s Viva La Vida to help tell their story. The school actually used students to help play the instruments.

Another music video involves the Muppets. If you know Queen, you know the melody, but this Bohemian Rhapsody is a little different. The video appeared only Tuesday and now is well over 1 million views. I’m sure that’s something people will be talking about this holiday around the table.

And this music video, maybe also another conversation piece, involves some late night fun at the J-lab at Wartburg College in the Communication Arts department. Good stuff. Enjoy waiting for Miley, even if the song will be stuck in your head.